Furniture caster



Aug. 11, 1931- T. Pv DUNCAN. JR

FURNITURE CASTER Filed Aug. 8, 1929 gmenoz rPpuncan,J/1

Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES THOMAS P. DUNCAN, J'B., 0F NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA FURNITURE CASTEE Application filed August 8, 1929. Serial No. 384,325.

This invention relates to the class of furniture and pertains particularly to improvements in casters therefor.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved type of noiseless caster which, in addition, is designed for use upon polished floors without danger of marring the same.

The invention broadly contemplates the provision of a metal plate which is designed to be secured against the bottom of the leg of an article of furniture, integral upturned spurs being formed at the edge of the plate to facilitate its application to the furniture. The central portion of the plate body is provided with an aperture in which is forced a rope of suitable fibrous material such as hemp, cotton or wool and which is cut away upon each side of the plate sutficlently to form, particularly upon the outer face of the plate, a relatively broad thick dome-like tuft which engages the surface of the floor when the caster is in use.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the present invention, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modlfications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention, as expressed in the I appended claims.

a leg of an article of furniture to which a caster constructed in accordance with the present invention is shown attached and indicated generally by the numeral 2.

The caster comprises a metal plate body 3 constructed of material of suitably heavy gauge which plate is primarily formed in the shape of a triangle and has an opening 4: formed through the central part thereof. A slit 5 is formed from one end of and through the body of the plate to the opening 4 to permit the slight enlarging of the opening so that that there can be readily inserted a short section 6 of a rope of a suitable tough fibrous material, such for example as hemp, cotton or Wool. The natural tendency of the body to resume its former position after having the opening therein slightly enlarged to receive the rope will cause the rope to be tightly gripped and thus firmly held in position. The rope body at one side is then clipped away to form the low tuft 7, as shown in Figure 3, while the opposite end of the rope body is cut away in such a manner that a relatively large or thicker tuft or dome of the material is formed, as indicated at 8.

Each of the three corners of the triangular plate 3 is turned to extend at right angles to the main body portion of the plate and position at the sides of the tuft 7, providing the spurs 9 which are driven into the wood of the furniture leg 1, in the manner illustrated. It will be seen from Figure 1 that when the caster thus formed is secured in position upon the lower end of the furniture leg, the top tuft 7 will be mashed flat between the plate and the end of the furniture leg so that the strands of material of which the tuft is made up will be securely locked in position.

In order to further insure the permanent fixing of the strands in the carrying plate 3 the top tuft 7 may be provided with a coating of shellac or adhesive previous to the application of the caster to the furniture leg which substance will secure the fibers of the tuft 9 firmly together.

From the foregoing description it will be readily appreciated that articles of furniture equipped with casters of the character herein described may be freely moved about over polished floor surfaces without danger of marring the same and without sound.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

5 A caster of the character described, comprising a plate body having an aperture formed therethrough, integral penetrating prongs carried by the body at the edge thereof for engagement with a chair leg, and a rope having a normal diameter substantially the same as the plate aperture and, formed of twisted strands of fibrous material, said rope being secured in said aperture by having one end frayed out to form a floor surface engaging tuft andby further having the other end frayed out and adapted to be positioned and be gripped between the plate and the furniture leg when the plate is attached thereto to secure the tuft against displacement.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

THOMAS P. DUNCAN, Jr. 

